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Senator Richard Colbeck.
Photo: Matthew Newton
Who is Richard Colbeck?
An introduction to the
new minister for aged care
and senior Australians.
By Conor Burke
P
rime Minister Scott Morrison
announced his new ministry recently,
and owing to a slew of retirements at
the election, changes abound.
Among the most significant is the
departure of Ken Wyatt from the aged
care portfolio, after serving from 2016.
He leaves to become the first Indigenous
minister for Indigenous affairs.
Taking his place as minister for aged
care and senior Australians is Tasmanian
senator Richard Colbeck.
A former carpenter and small business
owner in the construction industry prior
to entering politics, Colbeck has been a
Liberal politician since his first election as a
senator in 2002.
CASUALTY OF WAR
Colbeck was re-elected in the 2007
and 2013 elections but fell victim to the
factional wars of Abbott, Turnbull, Dutton
and Morrison, and due to his support for
Turnbull, he was given an unwinnable
position on the ticket in 2016.
However, Colbeck became one of the
lucky winners of the section 44 debacle,
finding his way back into a Senate position
in 2018 after Senate president Stephen
Parry was forced to resign.
He was rewarded by the new Morrison
government with a position as assistant
2
agedcareinsite.com.au
minister for agriculture and water
resources, and during his career he has
served as parliamentary secretary to the
minister for agriculture, fisheries and
forestry, finance and administration, and
agriculture. He has also served as minister
for tourism and international education
and minister assisting the minister for trade
and investment.
Colbeck also served in shadow
parliamentary secretary roles in the health,
industry and innovation, and agriculture,
fisheries and forestry portfolios.
WELCOMES AND GOODBYES
In a statement on the reshuffle, LASA
chief executive Sean Rooney urged
immediate reform in the areas of funding
for emergency residential care, legislating
maximum wait times for home care
at three months, and investment in
the workforce.
He also welcomed the new minister and
took time to thank the outgoing minister.
“Minister Colbeck brings to the role
fresh eyes, along with a wide breadth
of professional and parliamentary
experiences at a critical time for Australia’s
aged care system,” he said.
“Minister Wyatt worked tirelessly to
press ahead with the reform agenda in
aged care. His contribution to aged care
reform has been tangible and credible.
Our industry wishes him well in his new
role as minister for Indigenous Australians.”
ACSA chief Pat Sparrow also welcomed
the minister and sees this as a time for
optimism while the aged care sector is in
the national spotlight.
“Congratulations to the new minister for
taking on what is one of the most important
and potentially rewarding posts in the new
parliament,” he said. “There are significant
challenges, but also huge opportunities
presented by our ageing nation.
“What we really need is a better plan
for our own ageing and for the ageing
population. We are delivering our incoming
government brief to the new minister and
are committing to engaging constructively
to come up with this long-term plan.”
Colbeck will have a full plate in his new
position, combining his aged care portfolio
with that of youth, as well as picking up the
sport portfolio from Bridget McKenzie.
Dr Sarah Russell, director and principal
researcher at Research Matters and director
of Aged Care Matters, said she believes that
this decision leaves the aged care portfolio
without the attention it needs.
“I am critical of the decision to give
Senator the Hon Richard Colbeck both
aged care and senior Australians and
youth and sport portfolios. With an ageing
population and the serious systemic
problems identified during the aged
care royal commission, Australia needs
a minister who is focused solely on aged
care and older people,” she said.
“I also believe the minister for aged
care and senior Australians should be a
member of Cabinet.”
However, Colbeck disagrees and looks
at his new portfolio troika as a positive
development.
“I am delighted that youth and
sport have also been included in my
responsibilities, because it acknowledges
that age should not divide our community
– rather, as families and as a nation we
can be brought together as we meet life’s
many challenges and opportunities,” he
told Aged Care Insite.
In a statement, Colbeck said: “It is
an important time in these portfolios,
particularly with the aged care royal
commission underway and the need to
support senior Australians in their later life.
“Fundamentally, this portfolio is all about
people, which is what makes it so exciting.”
On Twitter, Wyatt said: “Incredibly
honoured to be the first Aboriginal minister
for Indigenous Australians. Committed to
working and walking together with our
Elders, families and communities to ensure
the greatness of our many nations is
reflected in the greatness of our Australian
nation, now and forever.”
Elsewhere in the health sphere, Greg
Hunt continues as minister for health. ■